Ewen Macdonald before parole board today

Ewen Macdonald will
appear before the Parole Board for the first time today to
seek an early release from prison.

Macdonald became eligible this month for parole, after he was
sentenced to five years' jail for arson, vandalism and
killing deer and calves on neighbouring Feilding farms.

His term was imposed in September, after he was found not
guilty of murdering his wife's brother Scott Guy by a High
Court jury in July.

When he was sentenced, Macdonald had already served more than
a year in prison awaiting trial. So, this month he had
officially served a third of his sentence and became eligible
to go before the board.

It is understood his hearing will take place at Manawatu
Prison today.

Mr Guy's wife, Kylee, now a solo mother to their two young
boys, will not attend.

She did not want to comment on Macdonald or his bid for
freedom.

Mrs Guy is still working with private investigators after
launching her own inquiry into her husband's death. He was
shot in the driveway of their farm in July 2010.

Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with his
death, but did not seek a retrial for Macdonald.

Through a representative Mrs Guy told the Herald she was "not
giving up on Scotty".

She encouraged anyone with any information to come forward
and contact the investigators.

"Justice needs to be done ... it would mean so much to our
family and friends and especially our sons. We can't move
forward without closure."

She wanted the public to think hard about anything they knew
about Macdonald or her husband's death that could help her
get answers.

She said it did not matter how big or small, "it could be
what we need".

Macdonald is married to Mr Guy's sister Anna. Since his
arrest, the couple have separated but reportedly remain in
contact for the sake of their four young children.

Most initial parole applications are declined. The board uses
the first hearing to establish contact with the prisoner and
to ascertain what rehabilitation is needed before release can
be properly considered.

* Can you help? If you have information on Scott Guy's
murder, email the private investigators working on the case
at info@scottyguy.org.nz,
call your local police or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800
555 111